Vicki L MorrisonOn January 11, 2015 retired Chief Warrant Officer Ernest Joseph “Ernie” Hall was one of three pedestrians struck by a vehicle in Pembroke, Ontario and succumbed to his injuries.
The 57-year-old Petawawa resident was leaving the Pembroke Memorial Centre Sunday night, after attending the Lumber Kings/Cornwall Colts game, when he was hit by a Toyota RAV-4 driving westbound on Lake Street. Two other victims were released from hospital. Surrounded by family and friends Ernie Hall passed away Monday night in an Ottawa hospital.
In a statement Regimental Headquarters RCR said members were saddened to learn of the untimely death of retired member Chief Warrant Officer Ernie Hall. He was a decorated veteran of the Canadian Army who, in his 38 year career, had risen to the pinnacle of the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps. During Task-Force 3-08 his concern for the morale and well-being of family was always apparent. CWO Hall was a highly respected member of the regiment who had served as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 3rd Battalion in 2008-09 during operations in Afghanistan. Pro Patria ~ For Country
Hall had recently retired from the military in 2014 after serving most of his career with the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR). One of his last postings was with 42nd Field Regiment, the Pembroke-based reserve unit.
Hailing from Lanark, Ontario, Hall joined the military in 1975 as an infantryman. Following a peacekeeping tour of Cyprus with the 3rd Battalion, he was assigned to Garrison Petawawa, Canadian Airborne Regiment serving as a section commander and pathfinder detachment second-in-command until 1986.
Hall was posted back to the 3rd Battalion After a brief stint with the RCR Battle School, and sent to Baden Soellingen in Germany in 1988. During his time there, Hall served in the 1990 Persian Gulf War and subsequently deployed to Croatia in the former Yugoslavia. Returning to Canada in 1993, he was posted to the 2nd Battalion in Gagetown, New Brunswick where he held several positions including mortar platoon warrant officer, company quartermaster and operations warrant officer.
After his completion of a NATO mission in Bosnia, Hall was promoted to master warrant officer and deployed to Eritrea, Africa in 2001 as a company sergeant-major with Hotel Company 2RCR. When he came back to Canada, he spent time as the regiment’s career manager in Ottawa.
Promoted to chief warrant officer in 2005, Hall was appointed the Infantry Corps career manager before returning to Petawawa as the regimental sergeant-major (RSM) of the 3rd Battalion. From 2008 to 2009, he served as the RSM for the 3RCR Battle Group in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Hall spent two years in Ottawa as the Army Chief Warrant Officer career manager before returning to the Petawawa area. From January, 2011 to May, 2013, he served as RSM for 42nd Field Regiment (Lanark and Renfrew Scottish) in Pembroke. He was invested as a Member of the Order of Military Merit in 2005 and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in June, 2010.
A community minded volunteer, Hall was a supporter and long-time member of the Canadian Army Veterans motorcycle club, serving as riding unit vice-president in 2009. Hall also volunteered with the Salvation Army soup kitchen and the Lions Club Blind Anglers International Tournament. Last year, the service club presented him with the Frank Freier Memorial Award in recognition of his dedication and years of support.
The Upper Ottawa Valley OPP detachment has the incident under investigation. At this time Martial Laverdue, 38, of Pembroke, has been charged with one count of dangerous operation of motor vehicle causing bodily harm.
Funeral arrangements for retired Chief Warrant Officer Ernie Hall will be posted at the the RCR website when made available.
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